We have created a PAA Summer Baseball page on FaceBook.  You can find it by searching in FB for "PAA Summer Baseball" or at the following link:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/PAASummerBaseball

 FaceBook users can "Like" this page to get league news and updates via their FB newsfeeds, as well as to access and post pictures and comments about your PAA Summer Baseball team(s) or player(s).  Pictures of some of the prior year Skills Challenges and VBA Baseball Clinics are already posted to it.

The teams for the 2012 have been formed and rosters have been given to the coaches to begin contacting players. 

•  TBall-CoachPitch has 7 teams with 11 or 12 players each.  We do have spots for a few more kids in this division.
• Machine Pitch has 6 teams of 13 players each.  This division is full, but we can put players on a waiting list in case players disenroll.
• Senior Youth has 5 teams of 13 players each.  This division is full, but we can put players on a waiting list in case players disenroll.

Your coach s/b calling you this week through the weekend w your team and practice schedule.  We are having our coaches meeting this Saturday and hope to have all teams begin practicing next week.  You can expect 2 or 3 practices per week depending on your coach and circumstances.  We expect some players will be finishing their spring sports such as Little League, or soccer,....  Please let your PAA coaches know your availability to make practices and make what you can.  Practicing together as a team is clearly important for all teams, but we understand players may have other commitments to spring leagues.  Communication is key.

Please give your coach the opportunity to contact you through the weekend before reaching out to the commissioner to find out what team you are on.

The high participation rate is a promising sign for a another great summer of baseball.

Registration for the 2012 Summer Baseball season is closed.  Late registrations are possible but will be accepted only with a cash payment of $55 at the time of registration.  This amount is the normal $45 fee plus a $10 late fee.  Players registered late are not guaranteed a spot on a team, but if your player is not placed on a team, your $55 will be refunded upon your picking up the fee.  Registrations should be delivered to the address on the registration form.  If you have questions including good times to drop off registration forms please send them to phillipsbaseball@cox.net.

The teams are currently being formed.  PAA Baseball families will hear from their coach on or about May 20.  There is no need to check on the status of your player's team prior to this date.  Practices will not begin until the week of May 21 or shortly thereafter. 

 PAA Summer Baseball will provide players a team hat and shirt.  Players are responsible for their own baseball pants (preferably white) and gloves.  Also cleats are recommended but feel free to use cleats you have for soccer or other sports.  Teams will provide the helmets, bats, and catchers gear. 

Registration has just begun and we already have a date for PAA Players and Families to mark on their calendars.  Each summer the Virginia Baseball Academy (VBA) holds a baseball clinic exclusively for PAA players in the Machine Pitch and Kid Pitch divisions.  VBA owner, former MLB Pitcher and Hampton native Wayne Gomes once again is arranging for players from the Peninsula Pilots to be instructors for this clinic.  This is a fun and exciting way for players of all ages and experience levels to receive top level instruction from rising stars in college baseball and potential future MLB players. 

The VBA Baseball Clinic for PAA will be held Saturday, June 16.  We will announce the time once confirmed, so please hold this date and plan to attend this excellent baseball experience presented for PAA by the Virginia Baseball Academy and the Peninsula Pilot players.

Watch a video of a prior year VBA Baseball Clinic on youtube at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8A3-PbadZk

You can check out the Virginia Baseball Academy at:  http://www.virginiabaseballacademy.com

I often get questions from people looking to purchase a bat for their player.  Owning ones own bat can be a pretty cool thing for players and youth baseball bats come in lots of differenct and attractive colors.  But aside from looks, there are some important things to know about bats.  If you are purchasing your own baseball bat to use in PAA the barrel of the bat cannot exceed 2 and 1/4 inches which is the same as little league requirements for these ages. The length of the bat will vary based on your childs height.  But in general terms TBall-Coach Pitch players (4-6 yr olds) will use a 25" - 26" bat.  Machine Pitch players (age 7-9 yr olds) typically use 27" - 29" bats, and Senior Youth (10 - 12 yr olds) may look at bats between 29" - 31".  These of course are general guidelines and will differe based on your players size.  

Aside from the length of the bat, an important thing to know is that bats are different weights measured in ounces.  For young players it is often a good idea to buy the largest "drop size" you can find for the amount of money plan to spend. The drop size is the difference between a bats length and number of ounces. It is expressed as a negative number written on the barrel such as a -7 or -8 or -9 etc.... For example a bat that is 30" long and weighs 22 ounces has a drop size of drop 8 (or -8). A larger drop size (negative number) will mean the bat will feel lighter to the player than the same length bat with a smaller drop size. Lighter bats usually allow for greater swing control in young players.

Unfortunately PAA Summer Baseball will not have a Teen Division during the 2012 season.  Participation levels for teenagers is always challenging and now new high school rules allow schools to keep their players together for summer baseball which further decreases participation in leagues like PAA. 

 PAA will continue to offer:

Combined T-Ball / Coach Pitch for 4 - 7 yr olds;

Machine Pitch for 7 - 9 yr olds; and

Senior Youth (kid pitch) for 10 - 12 yr olds.

We will also consider, on an individual basis, allowing 13 yr olds to play in the Senior Youth division, but the intent will be to allow developing and lesser experienced 13 year olds to play, and not 13 yr olds who have superior skills and experience and should be playing at a higher level.  13 yr olds accepted into the Senior Youth division may bat and play any position, but they may not be allowed to pitch.  There will be no exceptions to this pitching restriction. 

Congratulations to all of the teams for a terrific season and competitive season-ending tournament in our Machine Pitch and Senior Youth divisions.

MP Champions - The Nationals beat the RedSox in a sudden death tie-breaker.  The Red Sox had gone into the Saturday championship game having won all its games.  The Nationals came into Championship Saturday with one loss and needed to beat the Red Sox to force a tie-breaker.  That is exactly what they did.   Nationals won the first game Saturday and then went on to win the tie-breaker.  Congratulations to the Nationals, and also to the Red Sox for some excellent contests in the tournament. 

SY Champions - The Nationals in SY also beat the SY Red Sox for the tournament title.  The Nationals arrived at Championship Saturday with no loses while the Red Sox had one and needed to beat the Nats in the first game to force a tie-breaker.  This first game was exciting as the lead changed hands literally each inning as the players gave it their all. The Red Sox were 2 outs away from victory with a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 6th (and last) inning when the Nats ripped a 2 RBI single for the win and the trophy.

What an exciting way to end an exciting and action packed summer baseball season.   We hope the PAA players and families enjoyed the games, and clinics PAA provides and we hope everyone received lots of playing time and at bats.  We look forward to seeing everyone back next summer.  Registration will take place next April.  Easy way to remember is when its tax day, its also time to register for PAA Summer Baseball.

We hope everyone in our Machine Pitch and Senior Youth divisions enjoyed the 2011 Skills Challenge played only in PAA Summer Baseball.  As usual, this annual event generated a lot of fun and entertainment for players and spectators alike.  The Skills Challenge Champs are:

Machine Pitch:

     Team  Competition - RED SOX

     Golden Glove -  Bryan McBride (Orioles)

     Longest Hit -  Ty McKee (Orioles)

Senior Youth:

     Team Competition -  NATIONALS

     Golden Glove -  Joshua Seligson (Yankees)

     Longest Hit -  DJ Boltz (Red Sox)

Congratulations to these teams and players, and congratulations to everyone who competed.  The Skills Challenge is an event PAA Summer Baseball enjoys hosting because it provides a different form of competition and a tremendous amount of fun.